Wyden Statement on New Data on Wealthy Individuals Who Refuse to File Taxes

Washington, D.C.—Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement on new data from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) on wealthy individuals who refuse to file taxes: 

“New information provided by the Inspector General indicates the IRS continues to let wealthy tax cheats get away without paying taxes owed. Those who flout the law by refusing to even file tax returns have been allowed to get off scot-free.

“Commissioner Rettig assured me at a June hearing that every high-income individual from tax year 2016 forward was involved in compliance action with the IRS, but the data suggest that 117 wealthy non-filers from 2014 to 2016 who owe $5.2 billion still haven’t been pursued by the IRS. No tax delinquency investigations, no criminal referrals, no tax liens—nothing.

“We need to get to the bottom of this and understand why there has been no enforcement in these cases. While teachers and firefighters pay their taxes with every paycheck, these wealthy tax cheats are seemingly above the law. It’s especially important that we course correct now to ensure needed investments in IRS enforcement are put to the best use.” 

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